Massive data study checks if diabetes drug protects hearts

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Eligible cohort entry dates: Market availability of injectable semaglutide in the US began on 5th December 2017. Optum: Study period between 5th Dec 2017 - 29th February 2024 Marketscan: Study period between 5th Dec 2017 - 31st Dec 2022 Medicare: Study period between 5th Dec 2017 - 31st Dec 2020 Inclusion Criteria: * Type 2 diabetes mellitus * Anti-diabetic drug naïve, or treated with one or two oral antidiabetic drug (OADs), or treated with human Neutral Protamin Hagedorn (NPH) insulin or long-acting insulin analogue or pre-mixed insulin, both types of insulin either alone or in combination with one or two OADs * Age above or equal to 50 years at screening and clinical evidence of cardiovascular disease: prior myocardial infarction, prior stroke or prior transient ischemic attack, prior coronary, carotid or peripheral arterial revascularization, more than 50% stenosis on angiography or imaging of coronary, carotid or lower extremities arteries, chronic heart failure - New York Heart Association (NYHA) class II-III, chronic renal impairment documents by estimated eGFR \<60ml/min/1.73 m2 per MDRD * Age 60 years or older with subclinical evidence of cardiovascular disease. Subclinical cardiovascular risk factors as one of the following: persistent microalbuminuria (30-299mg/g) or proteinuria, ankle/brachial index less than 0.9 Exclusion Criteria: * Type 1 diabetes mellitus, secondary or gestational diabetes * Use of glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist (exenatide, liraglutide, or other) or pramlintide within 90 days prior to screening * Use of any dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-IV) inhibitor within 30 days prior to screening * Treatment with insulin other than basal and pre-mixed insulin within 90 days prior to screening - except for short-term use in connection with intercurrent illness * Acute decompensation of glycaemic control requiring immediate intensification of treatment to prevent acute complications of diabetes (eg diabetes ketoacidosis) within 90 days prior to screening * History of chronic pancreatitis or idiopathic acute pancreatitis * Acute coronary or cerebro-vascular event within 90 days prior to randomization * Chronic heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) class IV * Personal or family history of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN2) or familial medullary thyroid carcinoma * Personal history of non-familial medullary thyroid carcinoma * Chronic hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis * End stage liver disease * A prior solid organ transplant or awaiting solid organ transplant * Diagnosis of malignant neoplasm in the previous 5 years * Female of childbearing potential who is pregnant, breast-feeding or intends to become pregnant or is not using an adequate contraceptive method * Known use of non-prescribed narcotics or illicit drugs * Proliferative retinopathy or maculopathy requiring treatment * Missing age or gender * Nursing home admission